Intermediate lymphocytic lymphoma encompassing diffuse and mantle zone pattern variants. A distinct entity among...

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Intermediate lymphocytic lymphoma (ILL) has been operationally classified with low-grade lymphomas, but clinical data supporting this is limited.
• The clinicopathologic features of ILL and mantle zone lymphoma (MZL) variants require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the clinicopathologic features of intermediate lymphocytic lymphoma (ILL) and mantle zone lymphoma (MZL) variants.
• To assess the immunophenotypic and enzymatic characteristics of these lymphomas.
• To compare the clinical presentation of ILL/MZL with other low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL).

Main Methods:

• Conventional histology was used to diagnose 13 cases of ILL/MZL according to established criteria.
• Frozen section immunophenotypic analysis was performed in 10 cases.
• Enzyme studies were conducted in five cases.

Main Results:

• ILL/MZL constituted 6.9% of 203 NHL cases diagnosed over a 2-year period.
• Common findings at presentation included splenomegaly, high disease stage, bone marrow and peripheral blood involvement, and extranodal site diffusion.
• Immunohistology indicated that ILL/MZL is a homogeneous entity with immunological features similar to low-grade NHL.

Conclusions:

• Intermediate lymphocytic lymphoma (ILL) and mantle zone lymphoma (MZL) are frequent, recognizable clinical and pathological entities within non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).
• These lymphomas share immunological features with other low-grade NHLs.
• Further clinical studies are necessary to establish the prognosis and optimal treatment for ILL/MZL.